How to block (and unblock) people on Facebook: a step-by-step guide

Made amends with that Facebook friend you blocked months ago? It’s time to unblock them!

If you're an active Facebook user, you probably know the latest through the world's largest social media platform. You'll often have great conversations with friends and family, share opinions on random groups and make new connections along the way.

But sometimes, there's plenty of unwanted attention that warrants immediate blocking. If someone pushes you to cease all interaction, you can unfriend or block them. But what if you want to give the FB user another go in the future?

The good news is you can unblock them, and we'll show you how to do it. But let’s start with how you can block someone on the platform.

How to block someone on Facebook

The platform allows you to block any user or page from your app or web browser. Here’s how.

Method 1: Blocking from the menu

Browser

• Go to the Facebook website, and log in to your account.
• Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.
• Select “Settings & privacy,” followed by “Settings.”
• Find and click “Privacy” on the left sidebar, and select “Blocking.”
• Under the "Manage Blocking" section, click the "Edit" button next to "Block users."
• You’ll see a pop-up explaining what happens when you block someone. Click the “Add to blocked list” to add a Facebook user to your blocked list.
• Type the name of the person you want to block. When their account comes up, hit the "Block" button next to their name.
• Facebook will ask you to confirm your selection. Click "Confirm" to continue.

Mobile app

• Open the Facebook app on your iOS or Android app.
• Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of the screen. If you have an Android, your profile picture will be in the top-right. If you don’t have a profile picture, you’ll see three horizontal lines in its place.
• Scroll down and tap “Settings & privacy,” and choose “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
• Scroll down, and under “Audience and visibility,” tap “Blocking.”
• You’ll see a list of blocked accounts. Tap “Add to Blocked List” to add an account.
• Type in the person or page’s name. When you see their account, tap “Block” in blue letters next to their name.
• A pop-up will ask you to confirm your action. Hit “Block” to confirm.

Method 2: Blocking from the user’s Facebook profile

Browser

• Log in to your Facebook account on your browser.
• Go to the page or account you want to block by searching for their profile using the search bar in the top-left corner.
• Click the three dots on the right side of the screen. This is under the blue “Message” button.
• Select “Block” from the bottom of the list.
• A pop-up menu will appear. Click the blue “Confirm” button to confirm your choice.

Mobile app

• Open Facebook on your mobile device.
• Search for the account or page you want to block using the search button in the upper right corner.
• Tap the three dots on the right side of the screen next to the blue “Message” button.
• Select “Block” from the list.
• Hit “Block” again in blue letters to confirm your choice in the pop-up.

What happens when you block someone on Facebook?

Blocking someone immediately ceases all future interactions. When you visit the settings page or the person’s profile page to block them, you’ll see a pop-up detailing what happens after blocking. The blocked account won’t be able to:

• See posts on your profile.
• Tag you in posts, comments, or photos.
• Invite you to groups, pages, or events.
• Send you a message.
• Send you a friend request, or add you to their friends list.

How to unblock someone on Facebook

Obvious reminder but important: you can only unblock a Facebook account if you’ve blocked it. And now that you know how to block, you may have a change of heart and decide to unblock someone. Here’s how.

Unblocking someone on a PC or a Mac

• Go to the Facebook website and log in to your account.
• Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
• Select “Settings & privacy,” and choose “Settings.”
• Click “Privacy” on the left sidebar, and select “Blocking.”
• Under the “Manage blocking” section, click the “Edit” button next to “Block users.”
• Select “See your blocked list.” You’ll now see a list of blocked accounts.
• Click the “Unblock” button next to the person’s name to unblock them.
• Finally, hit the blue “Confirm” button.

Unblocking someone on an Apple or an Android device

• Open the Facebook app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
• Visit your account settings by tapping your profile in the bottom-right corner.
• Android users will find their profile picture in the top-right corner.
• Scroll down and tap “Settings & privacy,” then click “Settings.”
• Under “Audience and visibility,” choose “Blocking.”
• You’ll see a list of people you’ve blocked. Tap “Unblock” next to the user’s name to remove them from your blocked list.
• Tap “Unblock” to confirm your choice.

Note: Whether you use the browser or the app, you must wait 48 hours before Facebook allows you to block an account again.

FAQs about Facebook blocking

The entire blocking and unblocking process can get confusing with different methods on multiple devices. That’s why we answered a few frequently asked questions below.

Will I know if someone blocked me on Facebook?

If you suspect someone has blocked you, try searching for their profile. If you can’t see the profile, they may have blocked or unfriended you.

Does Facebook notify someone if they’ve been blocked?

No. Facebook won’t notify someone if you block them. Similarly, you won’t receive any notifications if an account blocks you.

How do I unblock someone on Facebook Messenger?

If you unblock someone on Facebook, you’ll automatically unblock them on Messenger.

How do I find and unblock someone on Facebook?

Head to “Settings” and choose “Privacy.” Under this, select “Blocking.” Look for “Block users” under the “Manage blocking” section, and hit the “Edit” button. You can view your blocked list here and search for accounts to block or unblock.

How do I make someone unblock me on Facebook?

There’s no way to make someone unblock you unless you ask them. You can’t unblock someone who’s blocked you, but you can unblock someone already on your blocked list.

Learn all about Facebook with Linktree

And that’s a wrap on blocking and unblocking people on Facebook. We hope our step-by-step guide helps you restrict your social media interactions with people you actually want to talk to.

To discover more useful Facebook tricks, visit The Linktree Blog. Learn how to change your password, deactivate your account and make your FB private.

But that's not all. We'll also teach you how to monetize Facebook as a creator or business owner. From using Facebook Ads to sharing page links, our blog is an excellent educational resource for all your social media needs.

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